Can opener



Aug. 9, 1949. .'w.4 STEWART ,4

CAN OPENER Filed- Feb. 2a, 1946 Inventor WILLIAM L.STEW/)RT' ttomeys UNITED" STATE r ous diameters;

Patented Aug. 9, 1949 s PATeNrffoFF c This invention relates to new and usefulimterminating in apointed extremity H. The stem provements and structural refinements in can openers and the principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herein described, in which a pointed extremity of a stem is adapted to penetrate and engage the center of the end of the can, While a rotatable cutting wheel travels adjacent the marginal'bead of the can toseparate the end therefrom. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a can opener in which said pointed extremity of the stem remains in engagement with the end after the latter has been separated from the can;

and the end may thereby veniently removed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can openerwhich may be readily and conveniently adjusted to accommodate cans of varibe easily and con- A still further object of'the invention is to provide a can opener which is of simple construction and which cannot easily become dam- I aged. j.

With the above more important objects in view,

andsuch other objects asmay become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention (3011- sists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention; showing the same partially broken away and in situ on a can,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified embodiment of the invention,

Figure? is an end view, taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partially broken away, illustrating another modified embodiment of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional View, taken in the plane of the line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Like characters oi? ref rence are used to designate like parts in the specification and thnoughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the invention consists of a tubular casing Hi, defining a handle and formed at one end thereof with a reduced neck 5 l.

A bevelled cutting wheel E2, provided with a concentric boss 53, is rotatably positioned on the neck ll, being retained thereon by the peened portion i l of the neck.

A cylindrical extension stem 55 is slidably positioned in the casing Ill and projects at one end therefrom to form the offset portion i5, the same I5 is provided with-a, plurality of spaced, transversely extending apertures l8 and a Wing bolt l9, positioned in the side wall of theoasing I0, is selectively engageable with any one of said a apertures.

: -When, this embodiment of the invention is I placed inuse, thepointed extremity l1 iscaused ,to penetrate andv engage the end of the can '21, substantially atthe center, of the same. The

cutting wheel 12 is then broughtintoengagement with the end 20 adjacent the marginal bead 22 and by manipulating-the casing or handle Ill,

, the wheel I2 Will travel around the marginal bead l5 and separate the end 2ll from the can 2L. After the end has been separated, it may be removed Y the engaging position I6.

from the can by simply lifting the same with The opener may be adjusted. to accommodate cans of various diameters by simply disengaging the wing bolt l9 from one of the apertures l8 and sliding the stem 15 in the casing Ill so that the screw may. engage another of said apertures. .In this manhen'the distance of the wheel l2 from the wheel I2 is adapted to engage the upper edge" of the marginal bead 22, thereby affording substantial support for the wheel while cutting.

7 Referring now to the modified embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the same consistsof the casing 23, the slidable stem 24, the cutting wheel 25 and the boss 26.

These components are similar to those already described'with the exception of the stem 24 which, inth'isinstance, is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 21, in place of the aforementioned apertures I8 1 This slot is engaged by a set screw 28 positioned in the side wall of the casing 23,'thereby providing releasable means for preventing the rotation and the sliding of the stem in the casing. When it is desired to adjust this opener to various can diameters, the screw 28 is simply loosened and the stem 24 slid in the casing 23. After the desired adjustment has been made, the screw 28 is tightened and the opener is in readiness for use.

With reference now to the final embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 4' and 5, the same consists of the tubular casing 29, the stem 30. the cutting wheel ill and the boss 32.

These again are similar to their corresponding components already described, the stem 30 also coacting lock pin 36 is slidably positioned ingthe side wall of the casing 29, this pin being formed with one end thereof with the bevelled surface-31 adapted to engage the ratchet teeth of the rack 35. H l d d The pin 36 is normally urged against the rack by means of a resilient strip 38, this being secured at one end thereof to the casing 29 by means of a suitable screw 39. The Pin, 36 is connected to medially the length of the; st rip 38 by a rivet 40, and the remaining end of the stripassumes the formrof an arcuate finger catch' 4|.

This embodiment of the in vention isadjusted to accommodate various can diameters by simply lifting the finger piece 4i and the associated pin 360111; of engagement with the raclg 35 and sliding the stem '3n inthe directionof thearrow 42. To

slide the same in the opposite direction, the stem is siniply pushed to the required amount, While the pin 36 is inengagement with the rack under the resiliency of the strip 38.

While in the foregoing there has been shown :and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to' be understood that minor phanges in the details of construction, combina- "tion and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing 'from'the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Acan opener comprising in combination, a

iftubular casing, a cutting wheelrotatably mounted at one end of said casing, a cylindrical extension stem slidably positioned in saidcasing and protruding at one end therefrom, an oifsetportion at the protruding end of said stem, a pointed extremity on said oii'set portion, a ratchet tooth rack extending longitudinally on said stem, a coacting pin slidably positioned in the side wall of said casing, said pin being formed with a bevelled surface at one end thereof adapted to engage said rack, resilient means for urging said pin against said rack, and a set screw also posimtioned in theiwall of said casing, said stem being formed with a longitudinallyiextending slot, and

said screw engaging said slot.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, in which W said means comprises in combination, a resilient strip secured at one end thereof to said casing,

l5.and a finger catch formed at the remaining end of said strip, said pin being secured to medially the'length of said strip.

, 3. A can opener comprising in combination, a tubular handle formed with a diametrically reduced neck at one end thereof, a bevelled cutting wheel rotatable on said neck in axial alignment with said handle, a cylindrical extension stem slidable in said handle and projecting from said neck. an ofiset portion terminating in a pointed extremity at the projecting end of said stem, a

ratchet tooth rack provided medially the length of said stem, a lock pin slidable in the side wall of said handle and adapted for coaction with said rack, a resilient strip secured at one end thereof to said handle and formed with a finger catch at its remaining end, said pin being secured to said strip, said stem being formed with a longitudinally extending groove, and a set screw in said handle slidably engaging said groove.

d WILLIAM: L. STEWART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 280,241 Rath June 26, 1883 707,253 ,Pierce Aug. 19, 1902 1,524,996 Porrier Feb. 3, 1925 

